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ESPN Insights: Jalen Brunson is the fourth player listed at 6'2" or shorter to win NBA Finals MVP, joining: 🏀 Stephen Curry (2022) 🏀 Tony Parker (2007) 🏀 Isiah Thomas (1990) Heart over height ❤️
A moving portrait of Spurs legend Tony Parker from Wednesday’s ESPN broadcast of Game 1 of the NBA Finals went viral after it appeared artificial intelligence had been used to alter his appearance. An ESPN spokesperson confirmed to Front Office Sports that AI had been used to create the image—along with two other moving portraits during the broadcast—and the network is “evaluating” whether it will continue to use the technology in Game 2. The concept of ESPN’s promotion was to bring iconic playoff images to life, the spokesperson says, and AI tools were used to create the material. The company views the use of the tech as “an experiment.”
ESPN aired an AI-generated image of former Spurs star point guard and four-time champion Tony Parker smiling and waving his finger up and down. The image had Parker wearing a racing Spurs jacket with the Western Conference logo on one sleeve and what looked to be an American flag on the other. Parker was also wearing a black and gray hat sideways with confetti falling in the background.
Tony Parker was full of praise for Victor Wembanyama and his impact on the Spurs’ run to the NBA Finals. “It’s really impressive. We exchanged messages a few days ago and I told him: ‘It’s honestly impressive and very inspiring.’ Victor is incredible. What he’s doing at his age is phenomenal. For me, he’s the best player in the NBA, and by far. It’s very rare to win in the NBA with such a young team. Beating Oklahoma City was an incredible achievement, but now they have to finish the job,” Parker said according to BeBasket and revealed that he will miss the NBA Finals in person due to his commitment to the French U17 national team, which is preparing for the upcoming FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey.
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The former Spurs star also revealed that coaching in the NBA is an objective for the future, alongside the emerging NBA Europe project.
Is that something you sometimes see with big NBA competitors? When that 21st pick goes by, and Joseph Forte gets picked, do you still remember the names of the guys selected before you? Tony Parker: Of course. All of them. Alex: All of them? Tony Parker: Of course. And I even remember the European point guard who was drafted ahead of me at 24 by the Utah Jazz: Raul Lopez. Alex: Raul Lopez. Ah, you remember him. Tony Parker: Yeah. Well, he did not really have an NBA career. Alex: He had a career outside the NBA. Tony Parker: He had a career in Europe. Alex: A little bit, yes. Tony Parker: Exactly.
Bibi: Exactly. LeBron misses his shot, the Spurs play the possession, and I have someone next to me who was not only on the floor, but also on the bench and may have some insight. One of the best rebounders in NBA history is not on the floor. The Spurs are playing smaller. I understand it was to defend the three-point line, but— Tony Parker: It was to defend the switch. It was not to defend the three-point line. It was to defend the switch. Pop preferred having Boris for the switch rather than Tim. After that, with coaching choices, you never really know. That has been said and repeated. It is clear that most people would have preferred Duncan to be on the floor. But as a player, with things like that, you never know. It is difficult.
Former Los Angeles Lakers owners Joey and Jesse Buss are interested in being among the investors in French EuroLeague team ASVEL. ASVEL has long been considered one of the teams that might leave the elite league, but they’ve changed their mind and will continue to play in it. Now, they are ready to take a step further and secure significant funds.
Jorge Sierra: Shortest players to win a postseason MVP 6-foot-1: Isiah Thomas 6-foot-2: Tony Parker, Stephen Curry, JALEN BRUNSON Thomas, Parker and Curry all won Finals MVP, of course.
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Maxime Aubin: In the video teaser above, from a French TV show, Tony Parker seems to downplay Greg Popovich’s impact before he joined the Spurs in 2001, taking a shot at the 1999 championship in particular: “I mean, Pop was just getting started (in 1999), it was only his fourth year. (…) He hadn’t been named NBA Coach of the Year (…) (A ring?) I mean a ring that everybody criticized. Come on, let’s put things in perspective here.”
In the video teaser above, from a French TV show, Tony Parker seems to downplay Greg Popovich’s impact before he joined the Spurs in 2001, taking a shot at the 1999 championship in particular:
— Maxime Aubin (@MaximeAubin1) May 21, 2026
“I mean, Pop was just getting started (in 1999), it was only his fourth year. (…) He… https://t.co/ZxI1GCxiwD
Charlie Villanueva on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: I wouldn't even put him in the top 10. Q. Give me 10 point guards, combo point guards, it doesn’t matter. Villanueva: Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Stephen Curry, Allen Iverson, John Stockton… I wouldn't put him up past John Stockton, fam. Q. But that's only five you've named so far. Villanueva: Okay, let me get there! Steve Nash, Chris Paul… Okay. I'm cool. I'm cool with all these… Oh, also Tony Parker. (…) He’s not in front of Jason Kidd. (…) Bob Cousy. Pistol Pete.
Goran Sasic, executive director of the Euroleague Head Coaches Board: Everyone was excited, starting from your reporters, starting from your clubs, starting from the fans. So, like any stakeholder group was so anxious what will happen. Suddenly, the interest declined. And I want to give the example of the most enthusiastic, outspoken person about the NBA project was Tony Parker. We heard that he just is ready to re-sign with the Euro. So, I know a lot of potential investors and many stakeholders, like I said, were very enthusiastic. They suddenly became very pessimistic though. Instead of expecting miracles from the NBA, we should look to learn from those football clubs that the NBA tried to lure into the business.
Tony Parker is preparing for a new chapter in basketball, with the four-time NBA champion expected to become the head coach of ASVEL Villeurbanne for the 2026–27 season. According to BasketNews sources, Parker is projected to earn around €1.2 million annually, a figure that would likely make it the richest coaching contract in French basketball history. The salary for ASVEL's head coaching position under Pierric Poupet was believed to be only about 10 percent of Parker's projected deal, per sources. Parker is also expected to surround himself with experienced basketball minds on the coaching staff.